Possible Risk Management Actions To Consider
Risk management
can range from providing hazard and safe handling information via (Material) Safety Data Sheets and labels, to
requiring customers to demonstrate the ability to safely receive, store and use
the chemical prior to sale. If the customer fails to demonstrate the ability to
safely handle the chemical, the supplier should take steps to help the customer
improve its practices. Below are some additional risk management options,
though many other risk management actions are possible:
A. Chemicals
1.
Manufacturing specifications.
2.
Product hazard classification.
3.
(Material) Safety Data Sheets.
4.
Classification and packaging labels.
B. R&D
1.
Sourcing of alternative raw materials.
2. Changes to product
physical form to reduce exposure potential.
C. Purchasing
1.
Supplier materials contracts.
2.
Switching suppliers.
D. Manufacturing
1.
Legislation and operating permits.
2.
Engineering controls.
3.
Personal protective equipment.
4.
Maintenance schedules.
E. Contractors
1.
Toll-manufacturing contracts.
2.
Audits.
F. Marketing
1.
Voluntary restrictions on applications and uses.
G. Sales
1.
Customer assistance.
2.
Assessment of customer’s safe handling of chemicals.
3.
Provision of advice, possibly equipment.
4.
Halt sales.
H. Distributors
1.
Product stewardship agreements.
2.
Distributor training.
3.
Audits.
I. Recycling and
disposal
1.
Feasibility of recycling or reusing used and unused product or packaging.
2. Labels, safety data sheets and other relevant
guidance contain adequate disposal information.
3.
Expertise available to advise on product & packaging disposal.
Examples of Strategies For Making Product
Stewardship Information Available To The Public
There are many possible ways
this can be accomplished, including:
·
Provide the
contact information for a responsible person within the company who would be
available to answer questions about the company’s chemicals;
·
Place a summary
of the risk characterization on the company website in a format such as a
“product profile;”
·
Provide product
risk management information on the company website such as (Material) Safety Data Sheets, and guidance on
safe-handling and disposal;
·
Work jointly with
others to produce information on a group of chemicals and their uses.
Considerations When
Developing An Internal Monitoring Program
·
Compare results to defined perfomance
criteria;
·
Describe actions completed or planned to be
taken as appropriate;
·
Define responsibility for monitoring and
reporting;
·
Establish monitoring frequency;
·
Identify trends through data analysis;
·
Provide inputs to management review;
·
Communicate results key internal and extenal
audiences;
·
Seek and utilize customer feedback.
Parameters of Audits
The frequency and scope of the audits will depend on:
·
Importance of the activity concerned, based
on consideration of risk, business, societal, or health or environment impact,
etc.;
·
Historical performance and results of
previous audits;
·
Compliance with relevant practices and
commitments or standards (e.g., organization auditing policy, customer
requirements, ISO quality systems).
Points To
Consider Relating To Management Review
The Management Review could comprise at least some of the following
elements, though this will depend on company policy.
A. Discussion topics
1.
Policies, objectives and targets.
2.
Resource allocation.
3.
Program priorities.
4.
Communications.
5.
Organization changes.
6.
Research and development projects.
7.
Procurement, marketing and selling strategies.
8.
Status of action items from monitoring and auditing
programs.
B. Documentation
1.
Reasons for the review.
2.
Decisions taken and criteria used.
3.
Action plans, including completion dates and
reporting requirements.
4.
Progress against previous action plans.
C. Communication
The output of reviews should be
communicated to all those who have made an input or are affected by outputs
from the review. This includes those who:
1.
Are responsible for action or monitoring
performance.
2.
Need to ensure conformance is achieved.
3.
Lead other review or line meetings.
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